News from March 2013

THE Malaysian Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry is completing its energy efficiency strategy with the aim to launch it in the middle of the year.
The Ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Loo Took Gee said at a press conference: “We’re reviewing the numbers to ensure the target rates are realistic to further ...

The interim Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs for Bulgaria, Marin Raykov, has issued direct orders for measures to improve the countries energy efficiency.
A working group is to be set up and take charge of devising energy efficiency programs to run from 2014 through to 2020. The energy efficiency ...

THE Philippines’ Business Mirror reports the potential savings from one government department through improving energy efficiency.
According to Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran an energy efficiency audit at the Philippines’ Department of Finance’s (DOF) headquarters recently revealed that more than P360 million ($8.8m) in cost savings could be enjoyed through energy efficiency ...

NEW analysis underlines that the UK’s business and industrial sector is losing £3.7 billion annually through wasted energy.
The ‘Energy Efficiency Financing’ (EEF), a ‘pay as you save’ lending scheme, supported by Siemens and the UK’s Carbon Trust, supplied the analysis revealing how much is being lost through poor energy efficiency.
Data ...

IN its annual State of the Industry report, the U.S. Association of Energy Services Professionals (AESP) report that employment in the energy efficiency field is expected to increase in 2013.
The report, based in part on a survey of members of the association and interviews with industry thought leaders, found that ...

SOFIA news agency novinite.com report that Bulgaria's caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, Ekaterina Zaharieva, wants to improve energy efficiency in the country.
She said that efforts need to be made on drafting a common program for increasing the energy efficiency of all industrial, commercial, ...

$40 Billion needs to be spent annually to be able to fulfill the future energy demands for Africa according to one African energy expert.
Currently less than a quarter of this amount is being invested states Professor Mosad Elmissiry, head of Energy Programme for The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), ...

A new report from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) highlights 16 policies that would remove barriers in the U.S. to investments in energy efficiency.
The report, 'Overcoming Market Barriers and Using Market Forces to Advance Energy Efficiency', provides the U.S. Congress and state policymakers with a road map ...

ACCORDING to a new report The Australian Cleantech sector employs 53,000 and has a revenue of AUS$29 billion making it larger than the countries automotive industry.
The report, “Australian Cleantech Review 2013” published by Australian CleanTech, reveals that the cleantech sector, including energy efficiency, renewable energy and carbon trading, employs five ...

THE Romanian Association to promote Energy Efficiency (ARPEE) reckons the country has the potential to substantially reduce energy consumption by 2025, according to a report by Romania-Insider.com.
The ARPEE claim that the savings could reach up to EUR 7.4 billion or an equivalent of almost 6 percent of Romania’s GDP, according to ...

THE U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released the list of cities which had the most Energy Star certified buildings in 2012.
The list highlights how commercial buildings owners and managers across the country are taking action on climate change while delivering real financial savings to the bottom line.
“Through their partnership ...

THE UK government completed its Green Deal energy efficiency scheme, with Greg Barker, Climate Change Minister, releasing £244 million of funding to the non-profit Green Deal Finance Company.
The Finance Company will provide funding for businesses and homes looking to improve energy efficiency. BusinessGreen reports that the details of the agreement ...

THE Pennsylvania, U.S., Department of Environmental Protection has awarded $290,010 in grants to help 36 small businesses across the State to invest in energy-efficiency projects.
“Since 2004, DEP has invested $7.5 million in 1,756 small businesses statewide,” DEP Secretary Mike Krancer said. “We are committed to investing in energy and pollution-saving ...

NEW Zealand’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) reckons that the countries businesses are losing out to the tune of NZ$1.6 billion in energy savings through not improving energy efficiency.
The Business General Manager of the ECCA, Ian Niven, claims many New Zealand firms felt too stretched financially and believing they ...

THE European Investment Bank (EIB) and Exim Bank signed a €150 million loan for financing investments, energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in India.
The EIB loan will make long term financing available for investments that contribute to climate change mitigation implemented by both public and private sector companies. The operation ...

ENERGY efficiency needs to take the foreground as it will reduce the need for generating capacity across the Arabian Gulf according to columnist Tanzeed Alam writing in the Khaleej Times.
Alam highlights how much is being spent on renewable energy, with almost every country in the Gulf Cooperation Council setting renewable ...

The North African Kingdom of Morocco is setting up an energy efficiency plan to secure a sustainable future for the country.
Morocco has already planned and is investing in renewable energy, particularly wind and solar energy, which helps to reduce their reliance on fossil fuel imports. Now they are looking to ...

BLOOMBERG report that China will increase their efforts to improve energy efficiency and cut emissions after suffering record air pollution in Beijing.
China’s National Development and Reform Commission report that this year carbon-trading trials will start and they will target a reduction in energy use per unit of GDP by at ...

IF the European Union (EU) reduced its energy use by 35 percent on 2005 levels by 2030 it could realize savings of €250 billion annually according to a new report.
The report, Saving Energy, highlights that further savings could be in the region of €200 billion annually if the bloc met ...